Practices for the Management of Social Services during Disasters

Managing social services during disasters is a complex and challenging task. The damage caused by disasters, which includes the destruction of infrastructure and resources, the need to evacuate residents from danger zones, physical and emotional harm to residents and service providers, and the disruption of everyday life, is accompanied by increased humanitarian needs. Additionally, the ability to provide these services is hampered by a shortage of professional staff recruited for the task, who may themselves be affected by the disaster, whether directly or indirectly, or who are already caring of those in need of assistance on the home front (including the elderly, young children, and people with disabilities). Moreover, in large-scale disasters, the situation changes daily, making it difficult for social services to obtain a clear and up-to-date picture of the affected population and the types of harm sustained.

This document reviews the findings from the professional literature on managing social services during disasters, with an emphasis on welfare services. The review presents best practices based on lessons learned from disasters such as the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the US, the war in Ukraine, Israel’s wars, and natural disasters.